HomeMy WebLinkAbout142 - 12/17/1991 - AMENDING CITY CODE PERTAINING TO SOLAR ORIENTATION FOR RESIDENTIAL LOTS ORDINANCE NO. 142, 1991
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING CHAPTER 29 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY BY
THE ADDITION OF PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO
SOLAR ORIENTATION FOR RESIDENTIAL LOTS
WHEREAS, the citizens of the City have a strong desire to achieve and
maintain an energy-conscious community; and
WHEREAS, the City's Comprehensive Plan contains many statements which
encourage and require energy efficient development; and
WHEREAS, the City had adopted general solar energy policies which state
that solar energy is a preferred fuel source to meet future needs; and that the
development of private lands in a manner which encourages the use and protection
of solar energy systems will advance the public health, safety and welfare and
will promote the public interest; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 91-72, the Council of the City of Fort Collins
directed the staff to prepare for presentation to the City Council certain
amendments to the Land Development Guidance System and subdivision regulations
to include a solar lot orientation requirement; and
WHEREAS, the staff, working together with a technical advisory committee,
has conducted various public meetings and has extensively researched the issue
of a solar lot orientation requirement and has made its recommendation to the
City Council ; and
WHEREAS, the Council has determined that the solar lot orientation
requirements and program as presented by the staff is in the best interests of
the citizens of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
as follows:
Section 1 . That Section 29-1 of the Code of the City is hereby amended,
in alphabetical order, to read as follows:
Sec. 29-1. Definitions.
Solar-oriented lot shall mean:
(1) A lot with a front lot line oriented to within thirty
(30) degrees of a true east-west line. When the lot
line abutting a street is curved, the front lot line is
the chord or straight line connecting the ends of the
curve. For a flag lot, the front lot line is the lot
line that is most parallel to the closest street,
excluding the "pole portion of the flag lot; or
(2) A lot which, when a straight line is drawn from a point
midway between the side lot lines at the required front
yard setback to a point midway between the side lot
lines at the required rear yard setback, is oriented to
within thirty (30) degrees of true north along said
line; or
(3) A corner lot with a south lot line oriented to within
thirty (30) degrees of a true east-west line. The south
lot line must adjoin a public street or permanently
reserved open space. The adjacent street right-of-way
or open space shall have a minimum north-south dimension
of at least fifty (50) feet. (For purposes of this
definition, "permanently reserved open space" includes,
without limitation, parks, cemeteries, golf courses and
other similar outdoor recreation areas, drainage ditches
and ponds, irrigation ditches and reservoirs, lakes,
ponds, wetlands, open spaces reserved on plats for
neighborhood use and other like and similar permanent
open space. )
Section 2. That Section 29-526(D) , All Development Criteria for Planned
Unit Developments (LOGS) , of the Code is hereby amended by the addition of the
following Criterion 32, with all following Criteria to be renumbered accordingly:
32. Do at least sixty-five (65) percent of the lots less than
fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet in area in single- and
two-family residential developments conform to the definition
of a "solar-oriented lot" in order to preserve the potential
for solar energy usage?
Section 3. That Section 29-526(D) , Residential Density Chart (LOGS) , of
the Code is hereby amended by the addition of a new subparagraph (1 ) , with all
subsequent subparagraphs to be relettered accordingly, which new subparagraph (1 )
shall read as follows:
(1 ) Calculate a one (1) percent bonus for every one (1) percent
increase in the number of lots properly oriented for solar
energy usage beyond that required pursuant to All Development
criterion #32, up to a maximum credit of ten (10) percent.
Section 4. That Section 29-526(G) (3) (c) , Submittal Requirements for
Preliminary PUD Plans (LOGS) , of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
[30] The number and percentage of solar-oriented lots in the
preliminary plan; and the proposed number and percentage of
solar-oriented lots in each phase of development. Each solar-
oriented lot shall be identified on the site plan.
Section 5. That Section 29-526(G) (4) (b) , Submittal Requirements for Final
PUD Plans (LOGS) , of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
[9] The number and percentage of solar-oriented lots in the final
plan. Each solar-oriented lot shall be identified on the site
plan.
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Section 6. That Section 29-627(a) of the Code of the City is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 29-627. Variances.
(a) When permitted, the Planning and Zoning Board may authorize
variances under this Article upon its finding that the following
requirements in (1) , (2) or (3) have been satisfied:
(1) That by reason of exceptional topographical , soil or
other subsurface conditions or other conditions peculiar
to the site, hardship would be caused to a subdivider by
the strict application of any provisions of this
Article. Such variances shall not be granted if it
would be detrimental to the public good or impair the
intent and purposes of this Article. The decision of
the Planning and Zoning Board on any application for
variance shall be set forth in writing in the minutes of
the board.
(2) That by reason of exceptional conditions or difficulties
with regard to solar orientation or access, hardship
would be caused to a subdivider by the strict
application of any provisions of this Article. Such
variance shall not be granted if the same would be
detrimental to the public good or impair the intent and
purposes of this Article. The decision of the Planning
and Zoning Board on any application for variance shall
be set forth in writing in the minutes of the board.
(3) The applicant demonstrates that the plan as submitted is
equal to or better than such plan incorporating the
provision for which a variance is requested.
Section 7. That Section 29-642(6) is hereby amended by the addition of a
new subparagraph (o) , with the remaining subparagraph to be relettered
accordingly, which new subparagraph (o) shall read as follows:
Sec. 29-642. Preliminary plat review.
(6) o. The number and percentage of solar-oriented lots in the
preliminary plat; and the proposed number and percentage
of solar-oriented lots in each phase of development.
Each solar-oriented lot shall be identified on the
preliminary plat.
Section 8. That Section 29-643(e) is hereby amended by the addition of a
new subparagraph (8) , with all subsequent subparagraphs to be renumbered
accordingly, which new subparagraph (8) shall read as follows:
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Sec. 29-643. Final plat review.
(e) (8) The number and percentage of solar-oriented lots in the
final plat. Each solar-oriented lot shall be identified
on the final plat.
Section 9. That Section 29-658 of the Code is hereby amended by the
addition of a new subparagraph (c) to read as follows:
Sec. 29-658. Lots and blocks.
(c) For all single- and two-family residential lots less than
fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet in area in a subdivision not
required to be approved as a planned unit development, sixty-five
(65) percent of the lots shall conform to the definition of a
"solar-oriented lot" in order to preserve the potential for solar
energy usage. This provision shall not apply to lots approved
pursuant to § 29-644, Minor Subdivisions, and to lots located in the
R-F, Foothills Residential zone.
Section 10. That the staff and Planning and Zoning Board shall perform an
audit of the foregoing solar orientation requirements promptly after three
hundred fifty (350) lots have received preliminary approval for development under
this ordinance; and again promptly after three hundred fifty (350) additional
lots have received preliminary approval for development under this ordinance.
Reports of said audits shall be submitted promptly upon their completion to the
City Council advising the Council as to the effectiveness of these measures.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published
this 3rd day of December, A.D. 1991 , and to be presented for final passage on the
17th day of December, A.D. 1991 .
M yor
ATTEST:
a
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading this 17th day of December, A.D. 1991 .
M yo r
ATTEST:
City Clerk 4� ` v
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